Dr. Susan Enfield signed her contracts to be Washoe County School District's new superintendent at the school board's regular public meeting on Tuesday, May 10. 

Dr. Enfield will join the District full time on July 6.

“I am very, very humbled,” said Dr. Enfield. Turning to address Dr. McNeill, she said, “I will take care of, treasure, respect, and serve this community in honor of your legacy and try to make you proud…  I look forward to living, leading, and serving and becoming a member of this really special community.”

The Washoe County School District is the region’s largest employer, and the superintendent oversees more than 8,000 employees and more than 62,000 students.

For the past decade, Dr. Enfield served as superintendent of Highline Public Schools in Burien, Washington. She graduated from University of California, Berkeley, earned her master’s degree at Stanford University, and earned her doctorate at Harvard University. She previously served as a teacher, Chief Academic Officer, and Interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools before going to Highline Public Schools in 2012.

Under terms of the four-year contract, Dr. Enfield will receive $310,000 annually, which is adjusted each year based on the Washoe School Principals Association (WSPA) Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Her total compensation package is commensurate with the scope and complexity of the position as well as compensation levels for other superintendents of comparable districts.

May 9 Update:

The Washoe County School Board President, Vice President, and legal counsel have finalized a proposed employment agreement with Susan Enfield, Ed.D to become the next Superintendent for Washoe County School District.

“We are excited to have negotiated a fair agreement with Dr. Enfield to present to the Board on Tuesday, which recognizes the experience and proven performance that she will bring to our organization,” said Dr. Angie Taylor, WCSD Board President. “This four-year contract shows Dr. Enfield’s dedication to the community and will help provide consistency to our students, staff, and families.”

The proposed contract includes an annual salary of $310,000, falling within the range that was approved unanimously by the Board at its December 14, 2021 meeting.  

The total compensation package is commensurate with the scope and complexity of the position as well as  compensation levels for other superintendents of comparable districts. Additionally, the compensation package takes into account Dr. Enfield’s previous employment package. 

Dr. Enfield comes to WCSD with 10 years of experience as Superintendent at Highline Public Schools in Burien, Washington. She increased the four-year graduation rates from 62 percent in 2013 to more than 83 percent in 2021 at Highline Public Schools and also served as a lead partner in the Gates Foundation Early Learning Consortium. Education Week has called her one of the most respected superintendents in the nation.

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Original Story on April 26, 2022

The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees officially selected their new superintendent at a special public meeting on Tuesday, April 26.

The Board made a motion 6-1 for Dr. Susan Enfield to become Washoe County's new superintendent. Superintendent Dr. Kristen McNeill will retire on June 30.

Dr. Enfield has served as superintendent of schools for Highline Public Schools in Burien, Washington since 2012, and has also worked for Seattle Public Schools and Portland Public Schools. She is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and Harvard University, where she earned her doctorate.

During Enfield's tenure at Highline Public Schools, she and her staff made significant strides in closing achievement and opportunity gaps for students and raised the graduation rate from 62 percent in 2013 to more than 83 percent in 2021.

During a straw poll before trustee Beth Smith made the motion, six trustees voted for Enfield as their top choice as the new superintendent.

The board also voted unanimously for Enfield's effective date of agreement for superintendent to begin as soon as possible and no later than Monday, June 13, 2022. 

The Board of Trustees will now begin negotiations with Dr. Enfield surrounding contract terms that will be included in the initial offer of employment.

(The Washoe County School District contributed to this story.)

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The Washoe County School Board has been searching for a new Superintendent with help from the Bryan Group, since the current Superintendent Dr. Kristen McNeill is retiring at the end of June.

All of the finalists gathered at Wooster High School on Tuesday afternoon to be interviewed.

Each candidate was asked why they think they would be best fit for the job.

Caprice Young, Ed.D., the President of the Education Growth Group in Los Angeles CA points out "Being a superintendent is a lot more than just leading instruction."

Jhone Ebert, the State Superintendent Of Public Instruction for the State Of Nevada says "I am wanting to be closer to students, closer to educators so I can do the work alongside."

Susan Enfield, Ed.D., the Superintendent Of Schools for Highline Public Schools in Burien WA tells us "I'm certainly making a deliberate decision to come to a place where I believe I can do meaningful work over a long period of time."

Sherrell Hobbs, Ph.D., the CEO & President of the Victory Educational Solutions in Fort Lauderdale FL also says "I think about transforming public education, and they're open to being able to see themselves in a different light and being able to see how they can advance."

Shawn Loescher, Ed.D., the CEO of the Urban Discovery Schools in San Diego CA tells us,"30 years of experience in educational innovation and keeping a focus on what we can do to prepare our students for what's next."

What would they do about staffing shortages throughout the school district?

Loescher says "It's incredibly rewarding to work with students don't get me wrong, but we also want to make sure they can get home and not have a second job."

Ebert adds "Compensation number one, number two is we need to make sure that our learning conditions, that our working conditions our staff have are the best."

Young mentions "When there aren't enough staff members everyone else who's still here is stretched so far."

What would they do in case of another pandemic surge?

Enfield tells us "Respond in a smarter way, a more thoughtful way but just as we did before. Taking guidance from the department of health, and the state that we're consistent in that."

Loescher says "We're going to have to wait and see what the science tells us before we make an appropriate decision for what we would do for our faculty, staff, children and community."

And what would be a challenge you would take on as superintendent?

Young explains "Number one is chronic absenteeism. We've got to get the kids back, we've got to get them to feel welcome and comfortable in the schools again."

Ebert adds "Students can't learn if they're not here at school."

Hobbs made another point, "You never know what the needs are until you listen to the people, to hear their voice."

When making the final decision, one candidate said it's the fit between the candidate, the board and the community.